Single stage fruit orienting and pitting machine



Jan. 7, 1947. E. w. CARROLL 2,413,861

SINGLE STAGE FRUIT ORIENTING AND FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Jun 6. 1941 i 5 sheets sheet 1 INVENTOR, ELLSWORTH n! CARROLL.

ATTORNEYS.

1947- r E. w. cAkRoLL 2,413,861

SINGLE STAGE FRUIT ORIENTING AND PITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 6,' 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, ELLSWORT H W CARROLL.

IIIIIIIIIII v Jan. 7, 1947. w, CARROLL 2,413,861

SINGLE STAGE FRUIT ORIENIING AND PITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 6, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EEP- nvmvrox, ELLSWORTH W CARROLL.

v Arm/mgr;

Jan. 7, 1947. E. w. CARROLL 2,413,861

SIIIGLE STAGE FRUIT ORIENTING FITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 6, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR, A ELLSWORTHWCARROLL.

Arman 5Y5.

Jan. 7, 194.7; 'E. w. CARROLL I 2,413,861

' SINGLE STAGE FRUIT ORIENTING AND FITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 6, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Z 7Lg.13.

20 04 204 200 2 02. V I 47 41 20a 52 52 4a w/ ez n 20o Z 7.g.15. 0": 42

1 3 Y can) i y 4! T T 14 14 47 308 zoo 209 [48 20.3,-

mmvron, aLswokrfl m CARROLL.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 7, 1947 a -z ,4 1:.ui g SINGLE s'r'son mm wen-me as r nurse Ellsworth w. Carroll. s... Carlos, cam. swi

to 8 W Fine Foods; Ino., 8an l"raneisoo,. Calii'.. a corporation at California Original application June 0,1911, Serial in.

396,809. Divided and this application Novemher as, 1942. Serial .No. name My invention relates to fruit orienting and pitting machines and more particularlyto such a machine utilizing only a single orienting stage,

whereby a carrier may be dispensed with. The.

machine of my invention is ideally adapted for use in high speed automatic orienting and pitting of cherries. T'his applicationis a division of my application, Serial No. 396,809, filed June 6, 1941, for Single stage fruit orienting and pitting machine, which has matured into Patent No. 2,343,496 or March 7, 1944.

The main object of my invention is to providea fully automatic machine which will quickly orient indented fruit, such as cherries. in a single stage and thereafter transferthe oriented fruit to a pitting stage, where the fruit is pitted.

Figs. 8 and- 9 are diagrammatical 'views showing how inspection is accomplished at the single orienting stage. Figs. 10.11 and 12 are views mostly in elevation showing an alternative form of fruit transfer mechanism whereby the fruit is transported on the pitting knife from the orienting stage to the pitting stage. V

' Fig. 13 is a top view in elevation of a modified fence bar for use on my device.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line "-14 in Fig. 13.

Another object or my invention is to provide a novel and improved means for the transfer of fruit to the pitting station oi a fruit pitting machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved means for the transfer of oriented fruit from its position of orientation to the pitting station with absolute assurance'that the fruit will be pitted in its oriented position.

Other objects oi'my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the description forming a part-o1 this specification, but .I

* do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view partly in elevation, and partly in section, of one preferred form of my invention, comprising a single orienting stage and single pitting stage. For convenience and to avoid undue multiplicity of parts, only four rows of stations are shown in the drawings, although it will be obvious that by duplication more may be used. I

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking at 'the lower part of the output end of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view in elevation 01' the orienting and pitting assemblies only. a

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken as indicated by the line H in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken as indicated by the line 5-6 mm. 3.

Fig. .6 is a fragmentary view showing the drive oi the orienting wheels.

Fig. 'l is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken as indicated bythe line 1-1 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a view partly in section and'partly in elevation showing means whereby all fruit passed through the machine may be pitted.

Referring directly to the drawings for more detailed description of my invention, and first to Fig. 1 for the general assembly of a preferred type or machine adapted to orient, inspect, and

pit cherries, a hopper I0 is. provided with a lower opening ll whereby cherries in the hopper may come in contact with theiperiphery of arotating hollow-drum 12, this drum. having parallel rows of'fruitapertures i3 extending therethrough.

Hollowdrum I2 is open at one end to allow a stationary skid plate II to be inserted therein,

this skid plate having a cylindrical surfacev l8-v positioned adjacent the inner openings of fruit apertures it, this skid plate being attached to side bracket I! which also supports shaft l8 on which drum I2 is mounted. The other end voi! shaft II is mounted on opposite side bracket l9 and is rotated in a clockwise direction by pulley 9. Skid plate surface It is positionedbeneath the apertures II from a line adjacent the lower edge 20 of hopper 10 around to a discharge position 2!, an arcuate extent of slightly more than At the top of drum I2 is positioneda brush 21 ,mounted on shaft 22, this brush beingrotated v S counterclockwise bypulley 23 in order toinsure the fact that only one fruit is carried around the drum I! in each aperture l3. Outside the downwardly moving side of the drum l2, a retaining plate 24 is positioned-this retaining plate passing downwardly, spaced from and in concentric relation to the periphery of the drum'to terminate in output chutes 25. Each output chute is in line with each row of apertures 13, and in a tour line machine there will, oi course; be

tour rows of apertures across the drum and four delivery chutes 25.

In order toinsure that any broken or mashed fruit may be removed from the apertures I! before they are again presented to the hopper, ro-- tating piston gears 20 are provided having radial pistons 21 thereon enteringeach aperture after the aperture has passed the delivery chute. Each rotating piston gear is mounted on an arm 28 extended from skid plate I5, and is rotated by engagement of the piston 21 in apertures I3 as the drum rotates. -As each -piston,2l enters an aperture I3 fullyit closely approaches a stationary scraper bar 38 positioned at the bottom of the drum I2 so that all material pushed out of the apertures by the pistons will be scraped from the end of the pistons. One piston gear 28 is provided for each row of apertures.

Side bracket I1 and opposite side bracket I9 which support shaft I8 on which drum I2 r0.- tates, are attached to a gear box 35 forming the main body of the device and containing the various synchronized gears, cams, etc., to operate the machine, such mechanical arrangements being well known in the art and, therefore, neither shown nor described. Gear box 35 is supported on legs 36 to raise the machine sufllelently of! the floor to allow proper discharge of the fruit. Gear box 35 is energized by a large pulley 39 driving a power shaft 31' on which is mounted a main driving gear 38, as shown in Fig. 3, making connection with the gears and in the gearbox. Main horizontal frame member 84, each of these frame members being pivoted to the upper end of parallel reciprocating arms 55 and 85' mounted on parallel shafts 85 and 58', one of each pair of --which 88 is operated from within the gear box as shown in Fig. 4. The use of two parallel arms 65 and 55" on each end of bar 88 insures level travel of frame members 54 during reciprocation with a slight arcuate motion between the orientation stage and the pitting stage providing a clearinglift at each stage.

Control of the opening and closing of the clamps is accomplished by means of an opening rod I8 extending along bar 88 adjacent the bases pulley 39 is driven in any convenient manner,

such as by a motor 38' and belt 48.

Immediately below the outlet of each of the chutes 25 is positioned a horizontal fence bar 4| as shown from above in Fig. 3. This fence bar has therein a plurality of fruit retaining apertures 42, one of these apertures being positioned immediately below the outlet opening 43 of each chute, so that as the cherries roll down the chute, if the bar H is in proper position, they roll into apertures 42. Bar 4| .is normally maintained in level position by bar-actuating side arms 45 operated from within the gear box, these arms being capable of' raising bar 4I upwardly to block the outlet openings 43 of the chutes 25 as shown by the broken line position 45 in Fig. 1. The results of such a movement will be described later.

Positioned beneath and 'coaxially positioned with respect to each aperture 42 in bar 4| is an orientation wheel 41, these wheels being mounted on a drive shaft extending along stationary wheel bar 48 spaced from the output side of gearbox 35 by brackets 58. Bar 48 is narrow, and between wheels 4! has a sharp edge 5| on the upper surface thereof. Each wheel extends slightly above a circular platform 52 of predetermined diameter. The shaft carrying wheels 41 may be driven in any convenient manner, such as by a belt 53 and a wheel motor 54, this motor being fastened to the wall of gear box 35 on the interior thereof.

Means are provided to transfer. fruit stably supported by circular surfaces 52 and wheels 41 on the wheel bar, to a pitting position. Such a transfer mechanism may comprise a transfer bar 68 on which are mounted four fruit clamps as shown in Fig. 3. Each fruit clamp consists of opposed arms 6| pivoted on bar 58 extending toward the gear box and terminating in fruit grasping surfaces 62. These arms are normally kept closed by arm springs 53.

Means are provided to reciprocate the clamp bar 58 to the orienting stages stopping in a position where each open pair of opposed fruit grasping surfaces 62 is in proper position to grasp a fruit stably supported on a wheel bar surface 52 and back to a position wher the grasped fruit may be pitted. Such means are provided by fastening clamp bar 88 at each end thereof to a of clamp arms GI, this rod having collars II thereon in positionto engage lugs I2 extended from one of the clamp arms 5| in each pair. Clamp arms 8| are geared together adjacent the pivots thereof by gears I3, consequently the clamps are opened and closed in accordance with lateral movement of clamp bar 58. Clamp rod I8 is held in bearings 58 and is laterally moved by a stationary cam I4 positioned at one end of bar 68. One end of rod I8 is pressed by spring I5 to free collars II from lugs I2. The other end of rod I8 is provided with a cam'roller Hi, this roller being hinged to one side of the remainder of clamp rod I8 and maintained eoaxially with said remainder by spring TI. The action of this hinged roller will be described later in describing the operation of the machine.

When the clamp arms are holding fruit in pitting position, the axis of each fruit and pair of holding surfaces 52 is directly over a pitting rubber bar 88 carrying a plurality of conventional pitting rubbers 8| having central apertures 82 through which the pit may be forced by pitting knives 83 carried by a pitting knife bar 85, usually of I-beam section. Pitting knife bar 85 is supported on each end thereof by upright slides 85 mounted in slide bearings 81 supported by bearing arms 88 extended from each side ofv gear box 35. The pitting knife bar is reciprocated by side pitting arms 98 mounted on pitting shaft 9| extending through and operated from inside the gear box, and connected to slides 86 by end links 82. Reciprocating motion of pitting arm 98 will raise and lower the pitting knife bar thu causing the pitting knives 83 toDass through any fruit held in the clamps and to discharge the pit therefrom.

Immediately below and parallel with the pitting rubber bar 88 is positioned a pit inspector shaft I88 as shown in Fig. 5, having mounted thereon spaced pit-receiving plates I8I between spacer plates I82, there being two spaced pit-receiving plates between each spacer plate, with one set of plates for each pitting rubber. Each of the two pit-receiving plates is symmetrically cut away to form four pit-receiving receptacles I83 in which pits from the pitted fruit may be deposited after passing through rubber apertures 82, Pit inspector shaft I88 is rotated in a clockwise direction a quarter turn at each reciprocation of the clamp bar with receptacles I83 presented to rubber apertures 82 during pitting. This is accomplished by mounting on each reciprocating arm 55', closest to the clamp bar. dogs I85 pressed I against shaft end ratcheted wheels I88 by springs I01. Dogs I85 are so arranged as to engage one of the teeth of each ratchet wheel I85 at the pitting end of the stroke, and thereafter, when moving toward the orienting stage, the engagement of each dog I85 with each ratchet wheel I 88 will rotate the pit inspection shaft one quarter turn,

thus moving a pit lust deposited in'any recep-, tacle- I08 beneath the pitting rubber 90 to the right at which point a pit feeler I08 enters the cavity I08 between each two pit-receiving plates IOI. Feeiers I08 are pivoted on a shaft H and 6 g extends upwardly beyond the level of surface I! and the combined wheel and surface is not sumcient to support any fruit whose convex surface to an angular position as indicated by the broken" lines H5 if a pit forces a feeder I08 outwardly.

Both the top and bottom of each inspection chute I I3 is open and a fruit chute I I8 is directed into the top of each inspection chute II8, this latter chute being pivoted to the back wall I ll of the fruit chute II8. Consequently, any fruit dropping down a fruit chute II8 will be directed into an output chute II8 for improperly pitted fruit, or, if the inspection chute H8 has been moved to position I I 5 by pit contact, into an output chute I for properly pitted fruit. The pits, after having operated on feelers I08, are scraped out of the cavitie I03 by scrapers I2I and fall into pit-receiving receptacle I22.

Having above described the construction of my machine, I will next describe the operation of this particular modification. Cherries areffed in bulk into hopper I0 and fall into apertures I8 in drum I2 and are carried around in a clockwise direction until they meet brush 2| which is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. Brush 2I is ad- Justed to brush off all extra fruit so that only one fruit is in each aperture I8. The fruit is then carried around the drum until it reaches a position adjacent the output chutes 25. As the fruit is discharged from the drum into output chutes, the gearing in the gear box is adjusted so that the fence bar is in upper position 46, thus holding the fruit at the end of the chute. Thus, I do not depend for timing on the fruit rolling down through chute or on any accurate release of the fruit from apertures I3. Consequently, drum I2 may be continuously rotated. At a, certain time, as predetermined by the machinery within the gear box 35, the fence bar lI lowers to horizontal position and the fruit held in the chutes 25 drops into fence apertures 02 where it is supported by the sides of the apertures and by the upper peripheral surfaces of wheels 41. The wheels are rotated by motor 58 and the fruit is rotated by frictional contact with the wheels just so long as a convex surface of the fruit contacts the wheels. When, however, the stem indent of a fruit registers with the wheel, the fruit will no longer be rotated by the wheel, as the wheel is made of sufliciently small diameter that the wheel will fit into and either not contact the stem indent at all or only lightly contact it. Consequently, properly oriented fruit will rest stably on surfaces 52.

After a predetermined length of time during which time the fruit is being operated on by the wheels and whether or not the fruit is properly oriented, the fence bar is again raised to position 08 ready to stop the downward progression of the next fruit through chutes 20. As the fence bar is raised, one of two conditions will exist, 'as shown in Figs. 8 and 9; either the fruit will remain stably supported by circular surface 52 as is presented thereto. Consequently, instantly the fence bar ll is raised, all improperly positioned fruit fall of! wheel bar 88 and will drop through to the bottom of the machine, where they may be caught and returned to hopper I0 for another run through the machine. Ridge 0| on wheel bar 88 is used so that any fruit which might roll at surfaces 02 laterally cannot possibly be held in stable position on the wheel bar.

As soon as the improperly oriented fruit have had time to roll on the surfaces II, the clamp bar is reciprocated toward the wheel surfaces 82. Just before the end of this movement of bar 80, roller 10 on the end of operating rod I0 controlling the opening and closing of the clamps, passes off the thicker portion of stationary cam I4, thus allowing the clamp arms to close and grasp any fruit which are resting stably on the surfaces 82. The clamp bar 80 is then progressed back toward the pitting stage. As the cam roller I8 again hits the thick part of the stationary cam I4, the clamp arms do not open, because the hinged end of the rod I0 rotates against the tension of spring 11 without moving the operating rod I0, and therefore the clamp arms stay closed until they reach the other end of the stroke, where the clamped fruit is directly over the pitting rubbers 8I. The pitting bar is then reciprocated to drive the pitting knives 83 through the fruit and push the pitsfrom the fruit into pit receptacles I08 positioned below the rubbers. After the pitting knives 88 have been withdrawn, the clamp bar 60 again moves toward the orientation stage.

It will be noted that no strippers are necessary, as the fruit is held during the withdrawal of the pitting knives by the clamp arms. As the clamp bar 80 moves again toward the orientation stage, still grasping the pitted fruit, the clamp bar 60, by virtue of the design of the internal cam op rating the clamp bar, stops momentarily midway between the pitting stage and the orientation stage, just as roller I8 rides on to the thick part of stationary cam 18. As the operating rod I0, however, traveling in this direction will not hinge, the clamps are opened and the fruit drops out of the clamps in a position as shown by the dotted fruit outline I80 midway between the pitting stage and the orientation stage in Fig. 5.

The fruit, being released from the clamp arms, drops through fruit chute II8. Inasmuch as the inspector shaft I00 has been rotated a quarter turn by dogs I05 and ratchet wheels I 08 during this movement of bar 60 from the pitting stage to the discharging position, inspection chute II3 has already been set to direct the dropped fruit into the proper output, depending upon whether or-not a pit was discharged from the dropped fruit. Thus. no fruit, unless it has had a pit removed therefrom, can be passed into the good fruit output chute I20.

During the pitting and discharging time, new fruit have been dropped into fence bar apertures 42 and are being oriented. After the momentary pause of bar 60 to allow the fruit to drop, the fence bar again moves upwardly and the clamp bar continues toward the orientation stage to pick up there the fruit; if properly oriented, and the cycle is repeated. 0

Thus, it will be seen that the machine just above described delivers the fruit to a single orientation stage. The fruit is then inspected for proper position in that same stage simply by withdrawing the support of the fence apertures. Any stably supported fruit i then picked up by the clamps and taken to the pitting stage where the fruit is pitted. n the return the clamps stop at a discharge position, the clamp arms are opened and the fruit is dropped into one of two outputs, dependent upon whether or not the fruit has had a pit removed from it.

In Figs.10, 11 and 12, I have shown an alternate form of transfer mechanism. In this case I utilize the pitting knife. itself as the transfer device and thereby eliminate the necessity for transfer clamps. I use parallel reciprocating arms I50 and I50 drivenfrom the gear box on each side thereof, these arms being connected at their upper ends by bearing brackets II carrying at one end a pitting bar slide I52 extending across the machine. Pitting knife bar 00 is reciprocated in slide I52 by side rods I55 driven by eccentrics I55 driven around the same shaft I51 on which arms I50 are mounted. The pitting knives 83 are mounted on the bottom of pitting bar 80 and each knife is provided with astripper I60 mounted on stripper rod IBI operating in stripper brackets I52 attached to slide I52. Each stripper rod is pressed by spring I 53 to normally remain in upper position.

Eccentrics I55 reciprocate the pitting bar 80 and its attached pitting knives 83 in a double stroke. When the parallel arms I50 and I50 are moved so that the pitting knife is directly over a fruit in the orientation stage with arms I50 and I50 vertical, the pitting knives move down and partly enter the fruit in apertures 42. The pitting knives therefore will enter only the top meat of stably supported fruit and as the knives rise they will carry thefruit on the end of the knives. Then as the parallel arms I50 reciprocate to bring the pitting knife bar 00 and the knives 83 over the pitting stage with arms I50 and I50 in angular position, the knives are again reciprocated to bring the cherry first in contact with the pitting rubber 8| and then the stroke will be such as to force the pit through the rubber into the pit inspecting mechanism, which operates in exactly the same manner as the pit inspector previously described for the clamp type of transfer mechanism. As the knives are again raised, and the arms I50- and I50 move again toward the orientation stage, the r upper end I10 of each stripper rod IBI hits a swinging cam I1I, these cams depending from cross-bar I12 supported by side arms I13, so that the fruit, during the approach to the output position is pushed off the knife at the output position. Stationary cams "I are hinged to swing in one direction only and are gravity stressed to return position, so that on the return stroke the stripper rods I6I are not actuated.

It will also be noticed that in this modification, when the reciprocating arms I50 and I50 are in the pick-up position over the orientation stage,

they are vertical, whereas when they are over change made in the action of the fence bar so that there maybe no interference with the removal of the fruit. In Fig. 11 the motion of the reciprocating arms is toward the left, with the fruit just pitted having just been discharged by the action of the stripper; It will be noted that the arms then move to the orienting position and pick up the fruit with the fence bar in horizontal position around the fruit.

In Fig. 10 one fruit is shown as being pitted and the fruit which has Just been oriented is shown as being inspected by a momentary lifting of the fence bar ll. The fence bar 4|, as soon as the improperly positioned fruit has had time to roll off the wheel bar, is immediately dropped to its lower position so that when the fruit is to be picked up by the knives, the fence bar will not be in any position to interfere with the pick-up of the fruit, as the arms stay still until the knives rise to clear the fruit from the fence bar.

Fig. 12 shows this pick-up position, with the pitting knives 03 just partially entering the fruit down to a region just approaching the pit, and the next position after that of Fig. 12 will be a straight lift of the pitting knife with the fruit thereon to clear the fence bar before the pitting knife moves toward the pitting stage.

Thus, I have shown and described a single stage orlentator with a mechanism transferring the fruit from the orientation stage to a pitting stage, with alternate forms of transfer mechanism. In one of these modifications, the transfer is accomplished by clamps reciprocating between the two stages, and in the other modification the pitting knives pick up and transfer the fruit.

The modification shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is somewhat simpler mechanically than the clamp form of transfer mechanism, but the portion of the cycle utilized for orientation is somewhat shortened, due to the fact that the fence bar has to be lowered after inspection and prior to pickup of the properly oriented fruit, thus slightly increasing the cycle time of the machine for a given time of orientation.

With regard to the cycle time of the machine, I have found that the overall efiiciency of a single stage orlentator is very little if any less than that of a multi-stage orlentator, such as has been described in my Patent No. 2,220,511 cited above. When a carrier is used, with multiple stage orientation, I have found that quite often a fruit which has been properly oriented in prior stages is disturbed from its proper orientation in subsequent stages. Thus, the difference in the percentage of oriented fruit obtained in a single stage orlentator as compared with the percentage attained in a multi-stage orlentator is not so different asv might at first appear. For example, I have found that it is quite possible to obtain percentages of from 70% to 75% where multiple stages of the same general construction would give at best from to of properly oriented fruit. By the term properly oriented used herein, I mean fruit which is oriented to such a close extent that the fruit will remain stably supported after inspection.

I have also found that the time required for a high percentage of proper orientation is surprisingly small. Experiments have shown that with the machine described and shown herein, approximately 60% of the fruit is oriented in the first fraction of a second, and that in order to appreciably raise the percentage, the time must be-appreciably extended. Close observation of the acatiaau to the axis of the fruit passing through the stem indent, the pit, and the blossom end of the fruit, and that such fruit may tend to rotate stably on the wheel around this axis with the wheel shaft parallel to this long diameter. Some of the fruit so rotating will rotate around this long axis substantially indefinitely if not disturbed. Consequently, I have provided a means for reducing any such a tendency towards stable rotation, to be used with batches of fruit which have a high percentage of fruit elongated in the direction of the main axis, as above defined. Such means is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. In this modification the fence bar I is provided with rotatable inserts 200, these inserts having the fence apertures 42 therein. The inner walls of the apertures 42 are preferably provided with smooth regular serrations 2M and each of the inserts is provided with pe-' ripheral gear teeth 202 meshing with worms 203 mounted on a fence rotating shaft 2 extending along the fence bar and journaled in bearings 205.

This shaft may be rotated by small fence motor 206 which is carried on the fence bar and moves with it. By rotating the fence inserts while the cherry is being rotated by the wheels 41, the tendency for the fruit to assume a stable position with its long axis parallel to theshaft of wheel 41 is frustrated, as the serrations on the rotating fence turn the long axis of the fruit toward the plane of the rotating wheel and the rotation thereof but it will give a large percentage of fruit a proper orientation and greatly aids in making the prodnot uniform.

Furthermore. it can also be seen that by varying the diameter of the inspecting surface I! by the use of platforms 208 of varying diameters surrounding the wheel 41, that I am able to vary the leeway of inspection as desired. For example,

if the surface 52 is of very small diameter, then all the fruit except those which are exactly cen- V tered on the wheel, will roll on. If, however, the surface 62 is made of a sllghly larger diameter, the wheel may be registered with the stem indent of a fruit but the fruit may be laterally cocked to some extent. This fruit will still be held on the platform in stable position by gravity. Thus,

by varying the diameter of platform 62. I am able to obtain either strict inspection, or a. general inspection which is less strict as to the actual position of the fruit.

It may be found desirable "with certain fruit having -a large, percentage of shallow indents, to stop the rotation of wheels 41 during inspection. This is accomplished by energizing wheel motor 64 from a switch operated by the movement of fence barll so that when the fence bar ll rises to permit inspection, the wheel is no longer rotating. The instant the fence bar drops to the position just above the wheel, then the motor will almost immediately brings the stem indent of the fruit in registry with the wheel. I have found that when fruit which have a high percentage of elongated units are being run through the machine, that the use of the rotating fence will increase the percentage of properly oriented fruit by at least 10% or and I have been able with a single stage, and by the use of the rotating fence, to properly orient and pass through the pitter more than 75% of the fruit passed through the machine, with an orientation time that does not exceed one second. I have also been able to orient and pass through 'the pitter more than 65% of all the fruit passed through the machine in an overall-cycle of time less than one second, of which the orientation portion will be about of a second. In this manner, by using only a single stage and passing to the pitter only those fruit which are properly v oriented in a second or less, I have been able to obtain a higher production from a single stage machine than has been heretofore obtainable with a multi-stage machine using a carrier and a longer operating cycle. Furthermore, the single stage machine is simpler. and has fewer'parts than the carriertype machine, and therefore can be operated at higher speeds-with a consequent gain in output; I

In case .it is desired to operate the machine without inspection, such as may be desirable '1 diameter than the inspecting surface 52. The

fruit will remain on 'the'surface 208 irrespective of whether or not the fruit are properly oriented.

This eliminates the position inspection and passes all thefruit, irrespective of position, to the pitter,

be started again. Likewise, in the same manner, when the rotating fences are used, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, these fences may also be stopped from rotating during lifting of the fence arm.

I claim:

1. Fruit orienting and pitting means for indented fruit comprising a holder having separable upper and lower portions, a fruit revolving member projecting a distance into the lower portion of said holder, said fruit revolving member being indent of said fruit registerstherewith, means for moving said upper portion away from said lower portion a, sufllcient distance to clear said fruit, a pitting knife laterally spaced from said receptacle, and transfer means for grasping and transporting fruit resting on "said lower portion to a position beneath said pitting knife.

2.. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower portion is shaped to be incapable of alone supporting fruit other than fruit having registry of said stem indent and said fruit revolving member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fruit revolving member is a wheel.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to revolve said upper portion of said holder around the vertical axis of both portions.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to revolve said upper portion of said holder around the vertical axis of both portions and wherein the inner walls of said upper portion are fluted.

'6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fruit transfer means comprises a pair of horizontally movable clamp arms, together with means operating to close said arms on a fruit resting on said lower portion and to open said arms to release said fruit after pitting by said knife. e

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to'feed a new fruit to said holder after removal of a prior fruit therefrom by said transfer means.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherel l in means are provided to feed a new fruit to said holder after removal of a prior fruit therefrom by said transfer means and wherein movement of said upper portion of said holder to original position releases said new fruit into said holder.

9. In a pitting machine, a holder for holding a fruit, a pitting rubber spaced from said holder, a pitting knife, means for moving said knife from a position over said holder to a position over said rubber and means for reciprocating said knife at for causing said transfer means to transfer anorientated fruit to said pitting station and return for similar transfer of a successively orientated fruit: and means for causing said transfer means to drop a pitted fruit ata point between said orienting station and said pitting station during return movement of said transfer means.

11. A single stage orienting and pitting machine comprising means for holding a plurality of unoriented and unpitted fruit or the like; an orienting station; a pitting station; transfer means oseillatablebetween said orienting station and said pitting station: means for successivel positioning individual fruit' from said. holdins means at said orienting station; means for applying orientating forces to said fruit for a period of time to orientate the same; means for discarding said fruit if not properly orientated within such period; means for causing said transfer "means to transfer an orientated fruit to said pitting station and return for similar transfer of a successively orientated fruit; and means for, causing said transfer means to drop a pitted fruit at a point between said orienting station and said pitting station during return movement of said transfer means.

12. A single stage orienting and pitting machine comprising means for holding a plurality of unoriented and unpitted fruit or the like, an orienting station, a pitting station, means for successively positioning individual fruit from said holding means at said orienting station, means for applying orientating forces to said fruit for a predetermined period while said fruit is positioned at said orienting station, means oscillatable between said orienting station and said pitting station for transferring successively orientated fruit from said orienting station to said pitting station in orientated position to be pitted, and means for causing said oscillatable transfer means to abango don control of pitted fruit during return movements of said oscillatable transfer means.

mswon'rrr w. CARROLL. 

